The Student Athlete Sessions
D3Direct shares the stories of NCAA Division 3 student-athletes, and explores their journeys from Recruit to the Real World.
The Student Athlete Sessions
#56: Jenna Street - Linfield Volleyball Head Coach & Former D3 Athlete
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Linfield University's head volleyball coach Jenna Street nearly walked away from the sport before ever playing in college.
Now leading a resurgent program coming off its best season since 2013, she opens up about her own D3 recruiting story that led her to play four years at Cal Lutheran University, why she prioritizes multi-sport athletes in recruiting, and why she believes D3's four-year commitment model is worth protecting.
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Welcome back to another episode of the student athlete sessions. Today we are joined by former D3 athlete and current D3 head coach out of Linfield University, Jenna Street. Jenna, thanks for joining the program.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, thanks for having me. I'm excited.
SPEAKER_00Uh just kick it off by sharing with listeners here where you are right now, what's going on for you in the life cycle of a coach at the D3 level.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, well, we are really close to starting our season here at Linfield. So all of our athletes move in next Tuesday, and we have our first practice next Wednesday. And so we are doing all the final things to get ready for the season and um make sure that we have the best one yet.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. You guys coming off a great season in your first year, best since 2013, two all conference uh honorees. Who are you bringing in this in this next class to kind of bolster that team? And what are you excited about with incoming freshmen?
SPEAKER_01We have a we have a big incoming class of freshmen. So we have seven freshmen coming in, all amazing ladies. Uh character-wise, they are exceptional. I don't think we have a single one that has under a 3.8 GPA. And in fact, I think we have two that were at the very top of their graduating class. Um, so just you know, high standard, high achiever type ladies. Um, and then we have two transfers, one that transferred to us from um a D2 school in the spring. So this will be her first season with us, but um, and then we have one that transferred to us from another D2, um, a setter. And yeah, she's she's a stud too. She's a setter, and we're excited about her. So just just a great group of ladies, um, but nine newcomers all together, and we're looking forward to it. I think that it's probably I don't know. I mean, you know, what coaches, it's it's hard because you want to just be so excited and you never know until you're out on the court and see what you have, but um we think it's gonna be a special group, so seems like it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and it's it's such an interesting moment for recruiting because as you pointed out, you're not only bringing in these very talented high school players, but you are also shopping around and looking for transfers from different levels. You said two from D2.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Have you noticed, you know, it doesn't seem like it based on this class, but have you noticed a shift in the overall recruiting landscape, maybe from other coaches you've talked to? Um is there reprioritization there of trying to take transfers or or look for transfers first before opening up slots to high school seniors, or is it still kind of a balance?
SPEAKER_01Well, I think that D3 has historically been actually heavier on for your athletes um because that's part of our, you know, kind of the um what's the word I'm looking for? The uh like what the ethos. Yeah, the uh sorry, the um lands the not the landscape. You're gonna have to edit this part out. The spirit of the spirit of D3 sports is a four-year program, is what they're trying to promote.
SPEAKER_00Right.
SPEAKER_01Um, so I think it's always been heavier on non-transfers, to be honest with you, at the D3 level. Now, you know, I think what's interesting is that with the with the rule change going forward with D2 and D1 and potentially NAIA with five-year um adding that fifth year in, it's gonna change things a lot. And I don't think, I don't think because D3 is not as of right now adopting that. So I don't think we're gonna see as many transfers to us maybe after this year. So it's gonna be interesting. I mean, but I but aside from that, I think that just historically it's not been sort of part of the culture to have a ton of transfers at the D3 level. But for me as a new coach of this program, I, you know, I like transfers because you can kind of jumpstart your team like that. They have a little bit more experience, they have a little bit more maturity, um, hopefully a little bit more of both of those on the court as well. And uh, you know, they can they can just be potential leaders right away, which is something that goes a long way when you're trying to change program and kind of flip it around.
SPEAKER_00For sure. And it helps that Winfield has these graduate programs. So you you're not only attracted to, let's say, like an underclassman who was coming in and maybe dissatisfied with their situation at a D2, but also a you know, later career player, like a you know, a senior or even a grad student. So that is definitely an advantage. Um yeah, and I I would say, you know, in my own college career, I had a new coach come in my sophomore year, and I think he would have killed for that type of like you described that injection of leadership and experience. And um, so yeah, really a great thing to again build off the success you guys had last year um in your first season. So definitely high high hopes. We'll be following along with y'all on the court this year.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, high hopes for sure.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Well, I want to jump back into your experience as a D3 athlete. Take it all the way back. You were um, you know, a four-year career player uh at a at a school down uh south of Linfield, Cal Lutheran University in California, and uh, you know, member of the 2006 team that went to the Elite Eight, uh, had a great career, um, graduated from CLU. And but when we met, because you and I met a couple months ago when I was at Linfield, you told me that that career almost didn't happen. Could you share that story? Because I think it's so important for recruits to hear this.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I agree. Um, I got to my senior year of high school, and you know, after being recruited, and at the time there was no, you know, YouTube videos and Instagram recruiting profiles. So my dad spent all this time, you know, hiring someone to take all the film that he had recorded and turn it into a DVD that was sent off to uh coaches. And so we had gone on recruiting trips, him and I. I had offers from D2 schools and some offers from D3 schools. And I, you know, told my parents that I was done. Um, I think this was uh spring of my senior year. So I had decided not to play club that year. I and then I think by March I said, I don't think I want to play volleyball in college. And they basically said, okay, you have to play for a year. So they kind of forced me into it, to be honest with you. They forced me to play a year and they said, if you don't want to play after that first year, you don't have to play anymore. But they said, go ahead and take an academic scholarship to a D3 school because then you won't lose your scholarship. Because I had been, you know, I had some scholarship opportunities to some D2s. So I did that and um I took took my opportunity at Cal Lutheran and I'm glad I did. I was I was really lucky to be going to a really good program where um, you know, they had a a core group of returners that were really strong. And uh we uh, like you said, made it to the lead eight, and I was um a starter in my freshman year as an outside hitter. So it was it was hard to want to quit after that, of course. But I, you know, I think it's interesting because it this is gonna get into a larger conversation, but I was really burnt out by my senior year. I didn't want to play club. I was like, I'm done doing this. Um, you know, I think I also had, I had an older cousin that had played D1, and I forget where she played at now, but she had played D1 volleyball. And around my sophomore junior club season, she came to watch me play, and she and I had a conversation about playing volleyball in college, and she said, do not play D1. She said that it was her whole life and that she was kind of miserable. And, you know, to a young uh 15, 16-year-old at the time, that was really I was really taken aback by that. And I was like, oh my gosh, she's you know, having a horrible time, and all they do is volleyball and lifting and working out, and I just really didn't want that. And so I think that really kind of scared me off from that level of commitment. And yeah, I think I, you know, looking back, I think that's interesting. But I am glad that my parents made me play.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, there are a number of factors there. Yeah, you have the advice from from the you know, more of your uh age level giving you this um their their direct experience with the D1 level, kind of pushing you away from that. But then you also your parents saying, you know, just give it a shot. What did your recruiting process look like? Obviously, you had talent because you were getting these athletic scholarship offers at the D2 level, but if you were having these questions in the spring of your senior year, it was probably a pretty abbreviated timeline, no?
SPEAKER_01I'm trying to think. So I know in the when my season was still going on, my senior year, my high school season, I mean, I think that's changed because I had we had coaches, I was having coaches come and watch me play during that season, which I think not a lot of college coaches go to high school games anymore, at least for volleyball. So that's changed a little bit. But I had an offer, I think it was from Eastern Washington. Um, I think he came to watch my me at state and you know, verbally to my parents said something like he could offer me like a 40% scholarship or something like that. So I had that. And then I think my dad and I did our recruiting trip. I don't know. I I couldn't tell you when it was. It had to have been the next year, so like spring of my senior year. So I wasn't playing club, but I still was going on these on a trip, on trips to talk to coaches. So I went on a big one back east. Um, I had an offer from Bryant University to play for them. Um, I think it was something similar, like 50% for my freshman year um tuition. So um I don't I feel like my parents, and especially my dad, was really involved in in my recruiting. And, you know, it's funny because now as a coach, I think, you know, I don't really want to, not that I don't care about talking to the parents, but I really want to hear from the kids and I really want to hear from the athlete if that's something that they really want or not. Um and, you know, I just I don't I don't remember talking to the coaches very much myself, which is funny because I really expect that of the athletes that I'm recruiting. So yeah, I don't, I, you know, I I think that that's kind of a expectation across the board from a lot of coaches. They want to hear from the athletes directly and not the parents, but for whatever reason, um my dad kind of took the reins of that for me and was doing a lot of the communicating with with the coaches. So yeah.
SPEAKER_00Say more on that because I think that's something that comes up a lot in parents who are eager to help their children, you know, take take a large role in the recruiting process. But why to you, why to some other coaches you've talked to, does it matter to have the kid lead the process?
SPEAKER_01I think so. I mean, I think it shows maturity and I think it shows autonomy that they it is something that you know they're taking responsibility for and that they want for themselves, that it's not just their parents wanting it for them. And I'm not necessarily saying that's what it was like for me, but in a way, I mean, um, you know, looking back from to me saying that I wanted to quit. And that wasn't until I didn't tell my parents that until after I did all those recruiting trips with my dad. But um we, you know, I think that I just it's nice to see that the athlete themselves is uh kind of self-advocating and taking it upon themselves to put themselves out there to talk to the coaches directly. It just shows maturity, it shows um that they can handle also the requirements of being a college student, where a lot of self-advocacy is required, not only in their sport, but in their classes. And um, you know, you can't have your parents like emailing the professors and emailing your coach all the time. So it just shows that they're ready for that. And when we when I hear from parents first, which doesn't happen often, but when I do hear from parents uh, or when it seems like the parent is really kind of taking over that meeting or something along those lines, it is almost like a little yellow flag to me of kind of, you know, is this the parent that's wanting this, or is this the the athlete that's wanting this? And, you know, does this athlete, is this athlete able to talk for themselves, speak for themselves? Are they able to uh, you know, articulate how they feel and what they want? And those are all things that are really important if you're gonna be um an athlete and on a team. So yeah. I I think as far as you know, and I when I've talked to my friends that are coaches, it's the same thing.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, I think that's just important to reiterate. A lot of kids yeah, and and coaches have different preferences too. Like I think some coaches, you know, they say you definitely need to have your parent in the in the room when we're talking about finances, and can you afford education? And how is this what is your budget? How is this gonna work? Um and I think, you know, especially I'll keep it in the context of your experience. It seems like um what you were getting at the D2 level was 40 to 50% off based on this athletic aid. And but then you you mentioned you went and got a strong academic financial aid offer at a D3 level. How did it end up comparing? Was it more than 50% off of grades or was it um kind of in the same range?
SPEAKER_01I think that I'm not sure what my see, and this is why it's it's so funny because I knew that I had the best academic scholarship that I could get, because I had really strong grades. I think I graduated with a 3.8.
SPEAKER_00Okay.
SPEAKER_01Um, and I was eligible for like the presidential scholarship or whatever. So but I couldn't tell you what that was at the time. And I'm trying to think of I want to say it probably was about 40 to 50 percent, now that you're asking that, of what the tuition was. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Which, yeah, I mean, as you pointed out, it it creates a much safer back backdrop, or not backdrop, like uh just safetying that for you. As someone who was unsure whether or not they wanted to pursue this opportunity, all of a sudden, if you decide to take that step back and say, you know, I really don't want to play anymore, that money doesn't go anywhere. And your affordability or your ability your ability to afford college does not go away just because you stopped playing your sport, which I think gets lost in the conversation about college sports. And you know, obviously NIL is huge at the moment, um, less so at the D3 level, but everyone is so focused on and and associates an athletic scholarship with a full ride. And I think hearing more personal experiences like yours, where that's not the case. Um and actually the D3 uh level offers the same amount of money. It's just uh packaged in a different way that, again, doesn't dissipate once you stop playing your sport.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, 100%. I mean, I think that's probably one of the largest misconceptions, you know, and also why it's so important for athletes of the youngest ages to be uh, you know, for it to be pressed upon them that their academics are really important. So that they do have opportunities to have, you know, offers from lots of different schools, D3, D2, NAIA, whatever. But I think that um, you know, if their focus is D1 and they don't think their grades matter as much, they're gonna pigeonhole themselves into really needing an athletic scholarship where if they have strong grades and they can also get an academic scholarship somewhere, they might find that they that, you know, a D3 school is actually a better fit for them for lots of different reasons.
SPEAKER_00Right. Right. Yeah. And maybe, yeah, allows them an opportunity to keep playing their sport without these the burnout that you talked about, you referenced earlier, um, that I think a lot of young athletes are falling prey to at the moment, where it's just the demands and the schedule and the commitment load that we're putting on 15, 16, 17-year-old kids has reached this point where it's it's almost unsustainable. Um both for the kids and for the for the parents' wallets as well. Um but yeah, I mean, uh how would you um I guess you're maybe take a step back to introduce something else because you you're not only the the head coach of Linfield, you also three years after graduating from Calloo started your own um volleyball club in Oregon. Yeah. Um so you kind of have seen both sides. You run Oregon Premier Volleyball. And how do you try to manage the the schedule and the load of your athletes while also preparing them for the next level and not being unrealistic about what it's gonna take?
SPEAKER_01Well, I think we offer different tiers, first of all. So if they're super serious, then they're gonna probably be on one of our national teams, which is more of a commitment and um, you know, more travel and just and obviously more of a commitment financially as well.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01If they are just wanting to play, but play at a more competitive level, then the regional teams are more for those athletes. But you know, the other thing that we do and we try to be good about is we really like our athletes at the club to play multiple sports if that's what they want to do. Um I think, you know, if if if they have lots of other sports that they're playing or a couple other, probably the regional teams are better for them. But regardless, we've had we've had athletes on our national teams, you know, the our highest level teams that play basketball and track and you know, do other things as well. My favorite athletes to recruit um as a college coach are multi-sport athletes. Some of my best kids on my team played three sports through high school. And, you know, I think what's interesting about that is those ones came from small towns that that was more accepted because a lot of those athletes all played on all of those teams. So they kind of could make the schedules work for all of them. But, you know, there's something I think we have gone in a direction in our society of kind of forcing kids to specialize at a young age by demanding their time in sports at a really young age. And I think it's detrimental to them for a number of reasons. But, you know, my multi-sport athletes at the college level that played multi-sports, not necessarily in college, but in high school, they are more grounded. They they had different, they have a different perspective because they had lots of different coaches in different sports. They've had lots lots of different teammates, they've learned to work with different personalities, they've used different parts of their bodies, you know, in in different ways so that they're not getting these overuse injuries that we're seeing with kids that have just played one sport for, you know, 12 years or whatever by the time they get to college. So I think there is something to be said for that. And it's a hot, it's a tough balance because I I don't want to, you know, preach that, yeah, I love multi-sport athletes and then at my own club be like, you're not allowed to play multiple sports, because then that's obviously hypocritical. So we try to be as um accommodating to that as we possibly can because I think it's really good for them and you know it's healthier for them in so many different ways. Uh, the other thing we do is we really focus on the whole athlete. So we have a strength and conditioning coach, um, and he's amazing. So he's teaching them the importance of building strength through lifting and um, you know, explosion and jump training. That's great for injury prevention. Um, and you know, also we we Talk a lot about the mental side of the game, which is my passion with my background in psychology and counseling. So I love, you know, just I think that not making it just about on the court and our sport and making it about the whole athlete is um part of that. And it's not, we try to not be so focused on having uh the dialogue be about like your the track that you're on is to play in college. For us at the club level, the track that they're on that we're hoping for is to help them pursue excellence just in general, like whatever that means for them. If that means making their varsity team for high school, if that's their goal, then that's great. If it means they want to play in college and they want to have opportunities to do that, then we will help them get there. Um, but it's really for us, success means that we're helping to build the whole athlete that's gonna go off and be successful in their life, just in general, whether that includes the sport um still or not, it doesn't matter to us. So um I think we we try to be really mindful of that and like big picture oriented, that we're trying to build great people that can go out into society and contribute well and be successful.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, I mean that's a great, great offering, great message. I'm sure parents love to hear that. And and it I think it helps take the pressure down a notch. We again we we load so much on kids these days, whether it's from academics to um to athletics and feeling like they need to be perfect and they can't make mistakes if they want to play in college. And I think trying to take that focus off and just say, hey, we're gonna you're you're trying to build yourself up as a person. Don't worry about you know needing to be on any specific track or anything. I think that's a that's promotes more balance that I think results in in longer term more positive outcomes for kids. So commend you on that. And I'm sure you have produced some some high-level talent um with that mindset, with that balance. And and again, it helps the your your background. You have the the masters from Azusa Pacific, which is now a D3 school. Um so really just bringing it in from all angles, from your coaching, from your from kind of your academic pursuits to to help better the next generation.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I think also it, I mean, that's D3 volleyball too, though, is like the the we're not trying to necessarily create pro-athletes. That's not our main goal. Our main goal as D3 coaches is to produce outstanding citizens, you know. So um we we really care about the character that we're building in our athletes and we care about them as people. Um, and that's that's our top priority.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. I I think I hope that remains. I think, you know, we're in a turbulent moment for for college athletics generally, and it does feel like you mentioned the the five and five eligibility structure, the D2 and D1 approved. Unclear if D3 is going to approve it as well, but it it does feel like a very tenuous moment for that line that kind of divides what is currently offered at both. Um where do you kind of see the level going generally?
SPEAKER_01Or I will I I think that NAIA will adopt it. Um, that's my prediction because they tend to follow um what D1 and D2 do in that regard. So I think I think we'll see, you know, D1, D2, NAIA all adopting it. It's gonna be kind of interesting because if if D3 doesn't, then yeah, it's gonna isolate us a little bit. Um and it's it's kind of it is a pivotal moment, like you said, because it's kind of like, okay, put your money where your mouth is. Is it really about you know obtaining a four-year degree? Like, is it is that what we're promoting? Is like if we want four-year athletes for, you know, obtaining this four-year degree. Um, or, you know, are we willing to kind of budge on that a little bit? But I don't see D, I don't know. I I kind of I don't think they're gonna adopt it. And at least not in the next year or two. Um unless we see it really hurt our numbers, then I think there might be consideration there. But as of right now, I don't think it's gonna happen.
SPEAKER_00Right. Yeah, yeah. I mean, I almost think it becomes a selling point for schools to be able to say, hey, like the focus here is not strictly athletics. And I I think that's something we try to amplify at D3 Direct, is just similar to what you kind of your recruiting experience embodied, kind of what you talked about earlier, with your mindset for bringing players in, it's like think more than just of yourself as an athlete and and envision kind of all the the possibilities that you can develop while you're in college that if you aren't just treating that like a full-time job. Um so yeah, I mean, I think it becomes more of a distinct selling point for for D3 institutions. And and I mean, I I think we're maybe in a moment where some schools are going to close. We've already seen that, or maybe some low-level D1s that don't want to pay money uh like NIL or have you know the budget for that will reclassify to D3. But yeah, I I I would agree with your take that I I hope they don't um within the next couple years and and still preserve that kind of division split.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think so too. And I agree that I think it could be flipped to a positive instead of a negative. Like I think that if we sell it as, you know, hey, this is actually a good thing uh for you and your your athlete, your daughter, your son, then I think um it actually could end up bringing us more uh as far as numbers go. So we'll see. It's gonna be interesting.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Real quick, I want to hear your pitch for Oregon as a place. Uh, because you you not only grew up in the state, you, you know, you went away for college, but then you've come back and you've really invested not only as a you're a high school coach. We already mentioned, you know, starting Oregon premiere, um, your own club, you've you coached Multnomah is in AIA, correct?
SPEAKER_01They were. They closed as well. But yeah.
SPEAKER_00Okay. Yeah. So you've coached now at the D3 level as well. Um for people that are not from the state. Again, we got to visit it a couple uh months ago. It's an incredible place, beautiful. But what is your pitch to maybe people from the East Coast to the Southeast that aren't as familiar with Linfield or Oregon?
SPEAKER_01Well, Linfield itself is just a charming town that looks like it's out of like a Hallmark movie. So there's a lot I could say about Linfield and McMinnville, the town that it's in. Um, it definitely has like a small college town vibe. Um, the the people here love Linfield, they they love to support the athletics here. And so that's that's fun. You can go into town and to Main Street, and a lot of the businesses give um, you know, Linfield students discounts and things like that. So there's just a ton of support from the community for athletics here in general. But um, you know, our campus is beautiful, a hundred percent, you know, it's it's just it's so pretty online, but it's it's just as beautiful in person. And I just couldn't can't say enough great things about our campus and the school in general. But um Oregon is unique, you know, it's if you are someone that loves the outdoors, hiking, biking, kayaking, paddle boarding, um skiing, snowboarding, like we have all of that here. We have the, and then we have the coast, you know, about an hour away from campus as well. So it's all within reach in within a short drive. And I think that's something that makes Oregon special. Um, I think that's a reason why we get a ton of athletes from Hawaii and you know, and even the the East Coast, like they it's more mild weather, probably compared to some of the East Coast winters and things like that. But um yeah, it's it's a special place. I think that uh it's a little bit of a small town vibe, um, medium town vibe, I'd say here in McMinnville, but but it's it's a special place to be.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I definitely saw that when I was there. And I think uh trying to trying to shine a spotlight on it because it really is a um yeah, just something different than I grew up in North Carolina. Um so very different than what I saw growing up, and I think something that more kids would enjoy if they were aware of the opportunity. So nice. Well, to close it out, want to ask you the question we ask every guest. Just if you could go back and talk to your 18-year-old self, what advice would you give 18-year-old Jenna?
SPEAKER_01Oh man. Um I think I was I think I was a little too focused on uh life after college at that point. Like I think I was just in a hurry to kind of grow up and be an adult that I was not savoring the opportunity of playing a sport in college and what that meant and and all that that would give to me. Um, I just would have told myself to embrace it and and really like be present for those for those four years and be grateful for it. Um, because it really those were the best years ever. And I wish I could go back and redo them and live them over again with more appreciation. So I think I would, yeah, just tell myself to um not be in such a hurry to move, you know, move past that and to really embrace it and be grateful for it.
SPEAKER_00Beautiful. Yeah, and now you get to you get the chance to help the next generation appreciate those moments and and find places that they're gonna have those great years themselves. So I mean that that's that's special. You get to pass that wisdom along on a daily basis.
SPEAKER_01Yep, that's the goal.
SPEAKER_00All right. Closing thoughts, closing words, um, either on you know, something you're looking forward to or just uh notes on what you're excited for with the season upcoming.
SPEAKER_01Um, you know, I'm just I'm really proud of my team. They've worked really hard over the summer. Um, and I have a bunch of seniors, especially, I have a whole team that's just highly motivated and very um excited about the season, but I especially have some seniors that really mean business this year and have high expectations and really high goals. And we have every intention of of meeting those and exceeding those. So I'm excited. I'm excited for them. They deserve to just have the best season ever because they've just they've put in the work. So yeah.
SPEAKER_00Excited to see where it goes. Again, best season since 2013, last year for for Linfield, and and more to come this year. So if you're a recruit out there and you're listening to this and you've got a 3.8 GPA and you're looking to compete and build something special, uh, take a trip out to McMenville and and watch a game this fall to see see what they're up to.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Thanks for joining us. Um, and like I said, we'll be watching out for how y'all do this season.
SPEAKER_01Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_00All right, that's the pod. Let us know who you want us to talk to next. You can always check out previous episodes on Apple, Spotify, or else wherever else you listen. See you next time.